Temperature control for gas ranges



Aug. 18, 1936. c. c. WINTERSTEIN TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR GAS RANGES Filed Sept. 13, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 DUPLEX OVEN BURNER ll |....|uv s N MW m WE m

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OVEN THEMUSTA-T/C I PILOTBURA/ER VALVEMEANS DUPLEX 0 VEN EUlP/VE'R MA //v SUPPL Y I VA L v5 MEA N5 BY-PASS I VALVE VALVE CY/QXFIFCGC VIh/GTS 1 I y .4m

477'0/WVEK Aug. 18, 1936. c. c. WINTERSTEIN TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR GAS RANGES Filed Sept. 13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .DUPL EX ore/v Ell F MAI/V SUPPL Y VAL VE MEANS mus Min/V5 F/ 6-.

(km/MC. wz izz ersz enz' A Patented Aug; 18, 19 36 PATENT omen 2,051,401 T MPERATURE oon'raon roa GAB moss Clarence o. Winterstein, Chestnut mm, P... as-

sylvania rig-nor to The United Gas Improvement Company, Philadelphia, Pa a corporation of Penn- Application September 13.1934. Serial No. 70,805

21 Claims.

The present invention relates to the control of temperatures in gas ranges and other gas-burning appliances.

' In the automatic temperature control of gas 5 ranges, such as the automatic control of oven temperatures, it is customary to control the temperature by controlling the flow 01' gas to the oven burner by'a valve. actuated by thermostatic means responsive to the oven temperature.

- thermostats are used, it is customary to provide a by-pass around the thermostatic valve, permitting a small flow of gas to the burner to provide a minimum so-called maintaining flame on 4 ever the thermostatic valve may be closed.

This maintaining flame is made as low as possible, consistent with safe operation, to permit the maintenance of the low temperatures desired for certain cooking operations. Even with noninsulated ranges, this minimum flame is usually too high to permit oven temperatures as low as 250 R, which is the customary lowest marking on the control dial oi the thermostat. with the advent of the insulated range, the trouble has become still more marked and is universally recognized. It has been proposed to start the dial markings at 300 F. Some cooking recipes, however, call for lower temperatures and it is desirable to be able toprovide such lower temperatures. creasing thesize of the burnerv and therefore decreasing ,the permissible bypass rate. This would permit the lower temperatures, but would sacrifice quick heating to the higher temperatures.

The "principal object oi the present invention is'to provide means whereby the desired low temperatures may be conveniently and safely maintained without sacrificing quick heating to the higher temperatures.

Generally stated, in accordance with my invention I provide two burners which may be separate burners or two parts of a duplex burner. Means are provided to supply gas to each burner through a thermostatic valve operated by means responsive to the oven temperature. Means are also provided to supply to each burner gas bypassed around the thermostatic valve to provide the maintaining flames. A pilot burner is also provided, and means to supply to it gas bypassed around the thermostatic valve. Interposed in the flow or gas from the thermostatic valve to each'oi the burners (which I will term the main 55 flow) and in the bypass flow to each of the bum- When graduated (slow-acting or modulated) the burner to preventflame extinguishment when-' Another-procedure might consist in deers as well as-in the bypass flow to the pilot burner (when automatic ignition is not provided), I provide a single operating means controlling valve means adapted to pass the main now and the bypass flow to both burners simultane- 5 ously as well as the'bypass flow to the pilot burner (when automatic ignition is notprovided) or to pass the main flow and bypas. flow to one burner and the bypass tothe pilot burner (when automatic ignition is not provided) with the main l0 flow and bypass flow 'to the other burner shut-ofl or to shut oil the main and bypass flows to both burners and the .pilot burner (when automatic ignition is not provided), depending on the selected position of the valve means. In the case 15 that automatic ignition is provided, it is of course necessary to provide the usual shut-oi! device which may be arranged to control the gas flow through the inlet to the flow portion of the cook or the gas flow from the two outlets 20 from the main flow portion of the cook.

The individual'burners are provided of such size that the bypass rate to one 01- them will be sufliciently low to permit the maintenance of the desired low temperature and the'co'mbined heating capacity of both together sufliciently great to provide the desired quick heating to the higher temperatures. The burnersneed not be of the same capacity, although it is desirable.

When automatic ignition is provided, the pilot burner is not controlled by the valve means as it is then intended to burn continuously even when both cooking burners are shut .oii.

A convenient valve means is a nest or gang of cocks operated together by a single operating 5 means or a single cock provided with the necessary plurality of gas inlets and outlets through the barrel and the requisite passages through the cock plug. The latter form has been chosen for illustration in the accompanying figures which form a part of this specification and which show a form or the apparatus of the invention chosen for illustration, and in which:

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a form-oi! the apparatus of the invention, positioned ior high temperature cooking.

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically the apparatus of Fig. 1 positioned for low temperature cooking.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the apparatus of Fig. l, with all burners shut oil.

Fig. 4 shows in partial section and partial plan a single cock adapted for employment in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section along the line V-V in Fig. 4.

matically indicates a cock provided with three separate sets oi! gas passagesor a set 0! three cocks which may be rotated simultaneously by single operatingmeansandeachhavingasetot gaspassages. In eithercasethesets passages are diagrammatically indicated I and I. In the further description of Fig. 1, it is assumed that the separate sets of gas passages are providedintheplugandbarrelotasingl cock. Set of gas passages 2, which is termed the main fiow set, is comprised of the gas inlet port I and gas outlet ports I and I through the cock barrel I and the three-way passage I in the plug II. The gas inlet port 5 is connected through the thermostatic valve II and the pipe i2 with the gas supply means II.

Gas outlet port I communicates by pipe with one burner it oi a duplex burner generally indicated at it. Gas outlet port I communicates by pipe II with the other burner ll of the duplex II indicates the primary air supply burner. means to the burners.

When the cock is positioned as shown in Fig. 1, gas is supplied from the gas supply through the thermostatic valve ||,,pipe l2, gas inlet port I and the three-way passage 9 in the plug it to the two gas outlet ports 6 and I and thence through pipes II and II to both of the two burners II- and II, respectively.

The set of gas passages I, which is termed the bypass set in the cock, is comprised of the gas inlet port 20 and the gas outlet ports 2Land 22 in the cock barrel 8 and the three-way passage 2I in the plug l0. Gas inlet port 20 is connected by pipe 24 with the gas supply II. Gas outlet port 2| is connected by pipe 25 withpipe l1 leading to burner II. 26 is a valve means, such as for instance an adjusting screw, for adjusting the gas flow through pipe 28. Gas outlet port 22 is connected by pipe' 2| withpipe i4 leading to burner i5. 28 is a valve means, such as for instance an adjusting screw, for adjusting the flow through pipe 21. with the cock in the position shown in Fig. 1, gas is bypassed around the thermostatic valve H to both burners i5 and II flowing through pipe 24, gas inlet port 20 and the three-way passage 23 in the cock plug II to the gas outlet ports 2| and 22. Gas flows through pipes 21 and II to the burner it and through pipes 25 and H to burner II, the bypass flows to the two burners being regulated by the valve means 26 and 28. These valve means are adjusted to provide the required minimum flow to the two burners for the maintenance of the flames, when the thermostatic 'valve II, in response to its actuating thermostatic element or through manual operation, cuts'ofl the main flow to the burners through the burner set 0! passages 2. The design of the passage 2I in the bypass set I may be such that gas is out of! from the bypass outlets slightly after the outlets in the main flow set 2 are cut oil.

The set of gas passages l in the cock, which is termed the pilot set, is comprised of the gas inlet port 29 and the gas outlet port It in the, cock barrel and the passage I| formed in the face of the plug and extending more than hall-way a,os1,4o1

around its periphery, i! the outlet passages in the main 'fiow and bypass sets are arranged 180 apart as illustrated in the figures. Gas inlet port 22 is connected by pipe I2, with the'gas supply means II through the bypass pipe 24. 5 Gas outlet port II is connected by pipe II to the pilot burner- II. II is a valve means-or other mean for adjusting the fiow oi gas to the pilot burner. The design oi passage II maybe-such that gas is admitted to the pilot slightly in ad- 10 vvaries: of admission to the burners andis cut oil from the pilot slightly after the main fiow and bypass setsare cut oil.

With the cock in the position illustrated in Fig. l, a'small fiow 01' gas is maintained from the is gas supply II through pipes 24 and I2, gas inlet port 20, passage I| between the cock barrel and the cock plu the gas outlet port II. and pipe II to the pilot burner l4 irrespective of the position of the thermostatic valve i I. go

Referring to Fig. 2: In this figure the cockplug oi Fig. 1 has been rotated 90' clockwise. In the main fiow set the gas outlet port I is shut oil by the solid portion of the plug while gas may fiow through the gas inlet passage 5 to the gas outlet 25 passage I and thence to -burner II.

In the bypass set the bypass outlet port 2| is shut oil by the solid portion oi the plug while gas flows from the inlet port 20 to the outlet port 22 and thence by pipe 21 to burner ll, supplying the maintaining flame when the thermostatic valve shuts oil! the main flow.

In the pilot set the flow is maintained irom the inlet 29 through the passage Ii, the outlet Ill and pipe II to the pilot burner I4 maintainng the pilot flame.

In Fig. 3 the cock plug has been further rotated clockwise, cutting oil the inlet ports in the main. flow, bypass and pilot sets from all of the respective outlet ports, and cutting off the main andbypassfiows to both burners as well as the fiow to the pilot burner.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8: These figures illustrate a form of the cock diagrammatically illustrated in the previous figures. Parts performing the same function as those diagrammatically illustrated in the previous figures are given the same numbers. The sections shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 will be seen to be similar to the main flow, bypass and pilot sets 01' passages indi cated diagrammatically as 2, I and 4 in the previous figures, except that the communications bee tween the main flow and bypass gas outlet ports are provided in the cock barrel instead of by external piping, and one inlet pipe serves to supply gas to both the bypass and pilot inlet ports, which are in communication by way of a passage provided in the cock barrel. These provisions reduce the external piping required.

I is the gas inlet port, while 6 and 1 are the gas 60 outlet ports in the barrel I to and from the main 9 is the main flow three-way passage in the cock plug i0. Pipe |2 leads from the thermostatic valve (not shown) to the inlet port I. Pipes l4 and i1 lead from the outlet ports 6 and I, 65. respectively, to the burners (not shown). 20 is the gas inlet port and 2| and 22 the gas outlet ports to and from the bypass set, while 23 is the bypass three-way passage in the cock plug. 2! and 21 are passages provided in the cock barrel 70 connecting the main flow and bypass outlet ports.- 28 and 28 are adjusting screws controlling flow of gas through the outlet ports 2| and 22, respectively. The passages 25 and 2| may be contapped and the ends of the w stoppedin a gas-tight manner by the threaded plugs I6 and 31, which may be conveniently removed when stopped by the threaded plug 38, which may be' readily removed for cleaning the passage.

3! indicates the cock plug stem, threaded at ll to engage the nut ll. 42 ,is a spring member which holds the cock plug tightly in the barrel.

43 indicates the cock plug handle stem. 44 is the handle, which sweeps over a dial it! which is provided with high, low and oil markings to correspond with the two burnerson. one burner on, and both burners ofl" positions oi the cock.

46 is a stop member on the cock plug co-operating with stop members 41 and ll on the barrel to stop the rotation of the cock plug at the high and of! positions, ,respectively. v

Semi-stop means may be provided to arrest th cock plug rotation at the'low position, as best seen in Fig. 4, such as for instance the spring member 49 which bears on the face of the dial and is provided with a cup-shaped portion 50, which is adapted to drop into the cupped depression 5| (Fig. 9) in the dial face at the low-position, requiring some slight force to turn the cock farther in either direction. I

While the invention has been described in connection with the employment of two burners, it will be obvious that, although it wdfild considerably complicate the apparatus with additional cock passages and piping, more than two burners might be employed.

Furthermore, while the invention has been described specifically in connection with the temperature control of gas ranges, for which it has been particularly developed, it may have other applications in the field of apparatus heated by gas.

Modifications of-the apparatus described and illustrated will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is limited in scope only as the prior art and the appended claims may require.

I claim:-

1. A gas-consuming device comprising in combination, a gas supply means, a plurality of gas burners, main supply conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners, a thermostatic valve controlling the flow of gas through said main supply conduits and responsive to heat generated by said burners, main supply valve means controlling the flow of gas through said main supply conduits, bypass conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners and valve controlling the flow ofgas through said main supply conduits and responsive to heat generated by said burners, main supply valve means controlling the flow-of gas through said main supply conduits, bypass conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners and trolling the flow of gas through said bypass conduits, adjusting means in said bypass conduits,

bination, a gas supply means, a plurality of gas burners, main supply conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners, a thermostatic ,f-valve controlling the flow oi gas through said main supply conduits and .responsiveto heat generated by said burners, main supply valve,

means controlling the flow of gas through said main supply conduits. bypass conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners and bypassing said thermostatic valve and said main supply valve means, bypass valve means controlling the flow of gasthrough said bypass conduits, a pilot burner, a conduit connecting said gas supply means and said pilot burner, pilotburner valve means in said last-mentioned conduit, and a single operating means controlling said main supply valve means and said bypass valve means and said pilot burner valve means.

4. A gas-consuming device comprising in combination, a gas supply means, a plurality of gas burners, main supply conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners, a thermostatic valve controlling the flow of gas through said main supply conduits and responsive to heat generated by said burners, main supply valve means controlling the flow of gas through said main supply conduits, bypass conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners and bypassing said thermostatic valve and said main supply valve means, bypass valve means controlling the flow of gas through saidbypass conduits, a pilot burner, a conduit connecting said gas supply means and said pilot burner, pilot burner valve means in said last-mentioned conduit, adjusting means in said last-mentioned conduit, and a single operating means controlling said main supply valve means and said bypass valve means and said pilot burner valve means.

5. In a temperature control for gas ranges, the.

combination of, a gas supply means, a plurality of gas burners, a main flow conduit connected to said gas supply means, a thermostatic valve controlling the flow of gas through said main flow conduit, a bypass conduit connected to said gas supply means and bypassing said thermostatic valve, and a gas cock comprising a barrel having a main flow inlet therein connected to said main flow conduit and having a bypass inlet therein connected to said bypass conduit, a cock plug having main flow passages therein co-operating with the barrel has adjusting screws therein controlling the flow of gas from the bypass passages to the outlets.

7. A gas cook comprising, a barrel having a main flow inlet therein, a bypass inlet in said barrel separate 1mm said mainflow mm, a cock plug mounted in said barrel and having T-shaped main ilow passages therein co-operating with said main flow inlet and having T-shaped bypass passages therein co-operating with said bypass inlet, said barrel having outlets therein co-operating with said main flow passages and with said erating with said bypass inlet, said barrel havingoutlets therein co-operating with said main flow passages and with said bypass passages, and means for actuating said cock plug to bring said main flow passages and said bypass passages into and out of registry with said main flow inlet and with said bypass inlet respectively and with said outlets.

9. A device heated by gas combustion comprising in combination: a gas supply means, a plurality of gas burners, main supply conduits leading from said gas supply means to said burners, main supply valve means controlling the flow of gas through said main supply conduits, a thermostatic valve controlling the flow gas to said main supply valve means and responsive to heat generated by said burners, bypass conduits communicatlng with said gas supply means and said burners and bypassing said thermostatic valve and said main supply valve means, bypass valve means controlling the ilow of gas through said bypass conduits, and a single operating means controlling said main supply valve means and said bypass valve means.

10. A temperature control device for ovens and the like comprising a plurality of burners arranged in the oven, a valve casing outside the oven, connections from the valve casing to each of the burners, a main fuel supply means connected to the valve casing, a thermostatically controlled valve governing the fiow of fuel from the main supply means to the burners, a bypass conduit by-passing the thermostatically controlled valve, and a valve in said casing to selectively connect one or more of the burner connections to the main supply fuel means andto the by-pass conduit.

11. A temperature control device for ovens and the like comprising a plurality of burnersarranged in the oven, a valve casing outside the oven, connections from the valve casing to each of the burners, a main fuel supply means connected to the valve casing, a thermostatically controlled valve governing the flow of fuel from the main supply means to the burners, a by-pass conduit b'y-passing the thermostatically controlled valve, a pilot burner in the oven, a connection from the valve casing to'the pilot burner, and a valve in the casing to selectively'connect one or more of said burner connections to the main fuel supply means and to the by-pass conduit, and also to connect the pilot burner connection to the source of fuel when one or more of said burner connections is open.

12. A temperature control device for ovens and the like comprising a plurality of burners arranged in the oven. a 'valve casing outside the oven, connections from the valve casing to each of the burners, a main fuel supply means cons,os1,sor

nect'ed 'to the valve a thermostatically controlled ,valve governingthe iiow of iuel from the main supply means to the burners, a plurality of by-pass passages in the valve casing for gas-flowing from the main fuel supply means to the burners' and ivy-passing the thermostatically, controlled valve, and a valve insaid casing to selectively connect one or more of the burner connectionstothe mainfuelsupplymeansandtoone or more of the by-pass passages.

13. A temperature control device for ovens and the like comprising a plurality of burners arranged in the oven, a valve casing outside the oven, connections from the valve casing to'each the main fuel supply means and to one or more of the by-pass passages, and also 'to connect the pilot burner connection to the source of fuel when one or more of said burner connections is open.

14: A gas range having an oven and two bumers ,in the oven, in combination with 11168118101 supplying and controlling the flow-of gas to the burners comprising a main gas supply conduit, a thermostatically controlled valve regulating the flow of gas from the conduit to the burners, and

a valve connected to the conduit and to the burners and having a valve-member therein which is movable to connect the burners to the conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and to connect one of the burners to the conduit independently of the thermostatically controlled valve.

15. A gas range having an oven and two bu: ners in the oven, in combination with means for supplying and controlling the flow of gas to the burners comprising a main gas supply conduit, a thermostatically controlled valve regulating the flow of gas from the conduit to the burners, and a valve connected to the conduit and to the burners and having a valve-member therein which is movable to connect the burners to the conduit for the supply of gas to both of the burners under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and to connect both of the burners to the conduit independently of the thermostatically controlled valve.

16. A gas range having an oven and two burners in the oven, in combination with means for supplying and controlling the flow of gas to the burners comprising a main gas supply conduit, a thermostatically controlled valve regulating the flow of gas from the conduit to the burners, and a valve connected to the conduit and to the burners and having a valve-member therein which is movable to either of two positions in one of which it connects the burners to the conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and also independently of that valve, and in the other of which it connects one of the burners to the gas supply conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and also independently of that valve.

1'7. A gas range having an oven and two,

burners in the oven, in combination with means for supplying and controlling the fiow of gas to the burners, comprising a main gas supply conduit, a thermostatically controlled valve regulating the flow of gas from the conduit to the burners, and a valve connected to the conduit and to the burners and having a valve-member therein which is movable to one position in which it connects the burners to the conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and also independently of that valve, and to a second position in which it connects one of theburners to the gas supply conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and also independently of that valve, and to a third position in which it shuts off the connection of the burners to the gas supply conduit.

18. A gas range having an oven and two heating burners and a pilot burner in the oven, in combination with means for supplying and controlling the flow of gas to all of the said burners comprising a main gas supply conduit, a thermostatically controlled valve regulating the flow of gas from the conduit to the two heating burners, and a valve connected to the conduit and to the burners and having a valve-member therein which is movable to connect the burners to the conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and to connect one of the burners to the conduit independently of the thermostatically cnntrolied valve and to connect the pilot burner to the cc'n cluit independently of the thermostatically con trolled valve when gas is supplied to one of the burners.

19. A gas range having an oven two heat= ing burners and a pilot burner in the oven, in combination with means for supplying and controlling the fiow of gas to all of the said burners, comprising a main gas supply conduit, a thermostatically controlled valve regulating the fiow of gas from the conduit to the two heating burners, and a valve connected to the conduit and to the burners and having a valve-member therein which is movable to either of two positions in one of which it connects the burners to the conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and also independently of that valve, and in the other of which it connects one of the burners to the gas supply conduit for the supply of gas thereto under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve and also independently of that valve, said movable valve-member being also arranged to supply gas to the pilot burner independently of the thermostatically controlled valve when gas is supplied to one of the burners.

20. A temperature control device for ovens and the like comprising a plurality of burners arranged in the oven, gas supply means, a thermostatically controlled valve governing the flow of fuel from the gas supply means to the burners, a by-pass conduit connected to the gas supply means and by-passing the thermostatically controlled valve, a valve casing connected to the gas supply means and the by-pass conduit, and condu'its connecting the valve casing and burners, said valve casing being provided with a movable valve-member and with ports and passages whereby one or more of the burners may be selectively connected to the main supply means and to the by-pass conduit.

21. A temperature control device for gas ovens and the like comprising a plurality of main burners arranged in the oven, 2. pilot burner arranged in the oven, a valve casing outside the oven, connections from the valve casing to each of the main burners and to the pilot burner, a main fuel supply means connected to the valve casing, a thermostatically controlled valve governing the flow of fuel from the main supply means to the burners, means connecting the valve casing to the main fuel supply and by-passing the thermostatically controlled valve, and a valve in the casing to selectively connect one or more of said burner connections to the main fuel supply means and to also connect the pilot burner connection to the main fuel supply means when one or more of the burner connections is open.

CLARENCE C. WINTERSTEIN. 

